Discover Beek

Beek offers a range of options for your stay: the history of Els La Vera herbal liqueur, local buildings and monuments, and routes through the landscape of South Limburg. These places and routes give you specific starting points for exploring cultural history and nature according to your interests.

Cultural History and Buildings

The Els Museum is housed in the former distillery of Jacques Hennekens and is entirely dedicated to Els La Vera herbal liqueur. Authentic copper distillation stills form the heart of the museum. A visit includes a guided tour and a presentation covering the history of distilling in general and Els La Vera in particular. Both the production of herbal liqueur and the history of this specific product are therefore at the heart of the museum.

The Oude Pastorie is a visitor centre with information about the region’s history and the nature of South Limburg. The building was constructed in 2016–2017 around a surviving remnant of a Vroenhof dating from the late 18th century. The construction period of the Oude Pastorie and the age of the surviving building remnant therefore belong to different eras. The Oude Pastorie also serves as a starting point for a walk in the immediate area or a cycling tour through South Limburg.

The Martinus Church is also connected with the town’s history: Count Arnold was buried there in 1579; his gravestone was discovered in 1990. Another historical and architectural landmark is the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. It was designated a municipal monument in 2010. The twelve-sided structure is made of concrete, iron and glass. The chapel stands at the entrance to Kelmonderbos and can also be reached via steps from Molenberg.

A short walk through Beek’s town centre takes you past many monuments. On the Beek Monuments Route, the monuments are marked with purple dots. Plaques on the building façades provide additional information via QR codes. This lets you appreciate historic buildings as part of the townscape and learn more about them at each stop.

Nature Trails and Active Outings

Natuurtransferium Beek is located between Sportlandgoed De Haamen and the Oude Pastorie. You can reach it by following cycle junctions 113 to 114 or entering De Haamen 1, Beek, as your destination. Beek is also a junction on a cycling route of around 65 kilometres, which holidaymakers can join there. The approximate distance places the town on a longer cycling outing without specifying a particular journey time.

The Kelmonderbos Route passes through the green area around Kelmond and Klein-Genhout. It runs alongside the distinctive nature of the Keutelbeek and through a park, woods, avenues and orchards. These landscape features define the character of the route, which connects different parts of the area, from the stream to tree-lined paths and orchards.

Another route focuses on archaeology. “Meet the Prehistoric Farmers of Beek” follows the Keutelbeek past several sites where archaeologists have found remains of Linear Pottery settlements. The route thus combines a walk along the stream with insights into early settlement. Those interested in the region’s history beyond the buildings in the town centre will find a distinct way to explore the past here.

The “Full of Wonder” route offers 360-degree tours and/or audio tours at more than 30 stops. For another active option, Mini Bikepark Beek offers a safe place for young people in particular to learn the skills they need to ride gravel or mountain bikes off-road. The bike park is also suitable for people with disabilities.

The routes differ in their focus: the Kelmonderbos Route passes through a range of landscapes, while “Meet the Prehistoric Farmers of Beek” highlights archaeological sites. The Monuments Route turns the spotlight on buildings in the town centre, while “Full of Wonder” adds digital tours at numerous stops. You can therefore choose between nature, local history and different ways of exploring them during your stay in Beek.

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For the overview of the wider destination: Beek.